Smoky eyes are like necklines—they don't have to be showy to make an impact. Case in point: the makeup at Burberry and Blumarine, where makeup artists traded in their black pencils and sooty shadows for softer shades of brown and taupe. First, trace along the inner lash lines with a rich espresso brown pencil, such as Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Espresso. Then use a medium-size brush to diffuse a brown shadow (try Estée Lauder PureColor Shadow in Cyber Copper) from the lashes to the crease. For creams, we like Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Stone or CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast in Bronze Fire. Tap the color on your lids first and use what's left over on your fingertip to blend.

Yes, it's green. But it's a rich, sexy, jewel-tone kind of green. Not crunchy or earthy. We first fell in love with the shade at Jason Wu, where models hit the runway with emerald shadow spread over their lids and winged past the outer corners. For a more subtle effect, you can dust lids with gunmetal or charcoal, then press green on top. Either way, finish with tons of black mascara.

Warning: This is not liner for the timid. Dramatic swoops and exaggerated shapes painted on with liquids, gels, and pure black pigments characterized the coolest cat-eyes this season. For a night out, we suggest trying the Brigitte Bardot–meets–Cleopatra eyes at Lanvin (you can't get much sexier than those two). First, draw the outline of the shape you want with black pencil and fill it in with black shadow. For a less intense version, a thick stroke of black liquid liner will do. Try L'Oréal Paris Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner.

Show off your angelic side with delicate touches of gold on the eyes and cheeks. Trace a gold liner around the eyes like at Marchesa (makeup artist Talia Shobrook used Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonshine backstage), or dust a soft white-gold shadow all over your lids like at both Dior and Dolce & Gabbana. Gold also gives skin a candlelit effect when dabbed on the cheekbones. For fair skin, try a beige-gold, like M.A.C. Lustre Drops in Sun Rush, while medium and dark tones should go for something a bit more bronze (try Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion in Glow.)

Superbright lips can often be supercheesy. But not the high-voltage pinks and red we saw on the runways of Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs, and Thakoon. Without the slightest bit of shimmer or gloss, they were chic, stylish and all grown up. (Try M.A.C. Lipstick in Vegas Volt.) To achieve maximum coverage—and staying power—swipe on a clear balm, then layer and blot a few coats of lipstick. Keep skin fresh and dewy.

No one has a flawless complexion, but with the right amount of coverage and strategic highlighting, you can fake one. The important thing is for skin to not look like an oil slick, so pick a luminizer without too much shimmer or pigment (Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Luminous is beautiful and subtle on light skin, while Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand in Gold is ideal on medium to dark tones). Dab it around the outer corners of the eyes and down along the cheekbones. Don't forget to add a bit in the Cupid's bow.

Brows look best when they perfectly frame your eyes, and when they're not pencil-thin (which always looks unnatural). Our best advice for nailing the perfect shape: Put down the tweezers and buy yourself a good brow pencil (try one that's one shade lighter than your natural color), and if your brows grow quickly, use a tube of clear brow gel to keep them tame between appointments. Experts swear by either clear mascara or Revlon Brow Fantasy.